Well pump



June 2, 1942.

H.C.PYLE

WELL PUMP Filed June 27, 1938 4&

I IEJ INVENTOR. Howard C-Pgle BY ATTORNEY.

'der.

Patented June 2, 1942 WELL PUMP Howard C. P-yle, Glendale, I Calit, assignor to Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California I Application June 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,086

- the conventional manner arid may extend down- 12 Claims.

3 This invention-relates to improvements in the separation of liquid and gas mixtures and specifically to the separation of oil andlgas within a pumping oil welluby means known as a gas anchorJ The primary object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor increasing the volumetric efflciency' ot an oil well pump by effecting. separation of a substantial proportion of thedispersed and dissolved gases'from the oil flowing into the well bore before it reaches the pump cylinder. .Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device which will effectively separate oil and gas, and which can be readily attached to the 'inlet of the. conventional 'well pump cylinder located and supported by the tubing at or near the bottom 01' the well. An-

other object of the invention is to provide means for agitating the produced oil containing dissolved gas, prior to its entrance into the pump cylinder whereby equilibrium is promoted and gas is caused rapidly'to come out of solution and be separated from the oil prior to the entrance of theoil into the pump cylinder. 1 With these objects in view this invention resides broadly in a method. and apparatus for effecting agitation of the produced gas-containing oil at the bottom of a pumping well whereby gas is separated'therefromiprior to its entrance into the pump cylinderand whereby the volumetric efliciency of the pump is increased. The invention more specifically resides in means for applying centrifugal force and agitation to the oil a pumping well" whereby gas is separated from the oil, prior to its entrance into thepump cylin- These and other objects and features of novelty willbecome evident hereinafter.

In the-drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of 'the invention and in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views.

ward into the well to a point adjacent the producing zone H. At the lower; end of the tubing is attached a pump barrel. IS in which apump plunger I6 is operated by means. of suitable sucker rods ll extending to the top of the well and reciprocated by means ,of the walking beam |8. The pump carries a traveling valve 20 and a standing valve 2| in the plunger and at the lower end of the pump barrel respectively.

Extending from the lower end of the pump and coupled to the pump inlet connection is a cylindrical casing 22 forming a gas separating chamber and containing a rotor 23 axially positioned therein. The rotor comprises a shaft carrying a number of radially positioned vanes 25 and rotatably mounted upon bearings 26 and 2'! at the upper and lower ends respectively.

The lower end of the'rotor shaft 24 extends through a stuffing box '30 to a fluid pressure operated'motor of the conventional positive displacement gear type 3i. The motor is suitably housed in a unit under the shaft bearing 21 and the stufiing box 3|! and is coupled to and forms the bottom end closure of the cylindrical casing 22. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the motor through inlet pipe 33 and is discharged therefrom through outlet 34.

- The cylindrical casing 22 is provided near the lower end with a plurality of openings 36 through which liquid can pass from the surrounding space in the casing into the space within cylindrical casing 22. At the upper end of the casing 22 and'downwardly extending from the rotor 'bearing 26 is a short concentrically disposed sleeve forming an inner annular space 31 and a concentric outer annular space 38. The inner annular space 31 is vented to the outside of the gas separating chamber through a port 39 and the outer annular space 38 is connected to the v Fig. 1 is a partial sectional elevation of the gas anchor separator mechanism in place in the well together with a partial sectional view of y the pump-to which it is attached. v

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken at 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig: 3 shows a general arrangement of the apparatus-of Fig. las it relates to the typical pumping oil well.

Referring to the drawing, III is an oil string or casing fcarrying a perforated section I opposite the producing sands l2 and connected at the top 7 suction inlet of the pump through the standing valve 2| by means of passages 40 and 4|.

The fluid pressure pipev33'1eading to the motor 3| makes connection with the tubing I4 at a point 45 above the pump barrel whereby it is maintainedunder the static pressure of the fluid column therein. A screen is provided at the entrance of the pipe 33 where it connects with the tubing to exclude particles of sand or dirt, which may be entrained in the liquid produced from reaching the fluid. operated motor. 41 is provided in the pipe 33 to control the pressure of the fluid supplied to the motor 3|.

The operation of the apparatus of the inven- A valve 3 tion, for example, as applied to a pumping oil a substantial amount of its dissolved and entrained gas. The oil reaching the pump cylinder is therefore considerably more gas-free than the oil initially entering the separating chamber and the pump is thereby enabled to operate at a substantially increased volumetric efliciency. Poundpressure of .thehead accumulated in the casing continues in itsflow upward in the separator shell 22 through the outer' annular space 38, passages 40 and 4| and finally through the standing valve 2| into the pump cylinder. The 011 thus reaching the pump cylinder is lifted to the surface of the well through the tubing l4 by means of the pump plunger i6 and its associate apparatus in the co ventional manner.

Under normal operating conditions and while the pump is operating a column of, oil is maintained above the pump plunger 20 which extends to the top of the well and flows under the force of said pump to production through pipe 48.

The oil pressure in the tubing near the bottom 33 makes a connection with the tubing l4 and oil under pressure in the tubing is allowed to flow through the screen 46, throttle valve 41 and through the pipe 33 into the inlet of the fluid operated motor 3|. The oil which is thus supplied to the motor 3| is exhausted through the outlet 34. The pressure available for operating the said motor 3| is differential between the tubing pressure at 45 and the bottom hole pressure at the level of the motor outlet port 34 and this differential pressure in the case of a low pressure formation and a moderately deep well may range from one thousand to three thousand pounds per square inch. The differential pressure actually applied tomotor 3 may be adjusted as by means of the throttle valve 41 prior to the lowering of the apparatus into the well. Under average operating conditions, the motor 3| and the rotor 23 carrying the radial vanes 25 are operated at a speed ranging between one thousand and three thousand revolutions per minute. The oil containing dissolved and entrained gas which fills the separator shell 22 as hereinbefore described is thus imparted a rapid rotational movement as it passes upward toward the pump cylinder. Under the effect of the agitation and the centrifugal force imparted to the oil by its rotation a substantial amount of the dissolved gas is caused to be released from solution and the thus released and entrained gas under the influence of the said centrifugal force being of greatly different specific gravity than the oil from which it is thus separated is forced toward the center of the separating chamber 22 and into a region which immediately surrounds the rotor shaft 24. The separated gas passes upward along the surface of the shaft 24 parallel with the flow of the oil until it is entrapped within the inner annular space 31 and from there it is exhausted from the apparatusthrough the outlet port 39. The oil from which the gas has thus been removed flows upward into the outer annular space 38 and from there continues upward through the passages 40 and 4|, through the standing valve 2| and into the pump cylinder. The oil thus reaching the pump cylinder has, by the action of the before ing and other undesirable results of gaseous oil in the pump are also largely eliminated. The gas which is removed from the oil in the separating chamber 22 and exhausted therefrom through port 39 rises to the top of the well in the annular space between the casing l and the tubing l4 and is withdrawn to the gas disposal system through the pipe.

The" fluid operated motor 3| for the purpose of illustration is shown as a positive displacement gear type. However, other suitable types of motors may be substituted. For example a.

reaction turbine impulse wheel or even a suitable type of fluid operated expansible cylinder motor may be employed for imparting rapid rotation to the rotor 23.

The rotor 23 may also be varied somewhat in design. For example the rotor blades or valves 25 instead of extending radially from the shaft 24 may extend at a slight angle therefrom. The rotor blades 25 may also be spirally arranged around the shaft in such a manner as to aid in lifting the fluid from the inlet ports 36 toward the top of the'gas separating cylinder.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of but one apparatus and method and that the invention is not limited thereby but may include any method and apparatus which accomplishes the same within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a pumping well the combination of a well gas, means to transfer liquid from which gas described centrifugal separator, been relieved of 7 has been separated from said chamber to said pump and means for transferring liquid under pressure from said pump to actuate said agitatmg means.

2. In a pumping well the combination of a well tubing, a pump at the lower end of said tubing, a gas separating chamber communicating with the inlet of said pump, means to impart rapid rotation to liquid in said chamber, means to separate gas and liquid in said chamber, means to exhaust separated gas from said chamber, means to transfer liquid from which gas has been separated from said chamber to said pump, and means to transmit hydrostatic head from well tubing to actuate the said means for imparting rotation.

3. In a pumping well the v combination of a well tubing, a pump at the lower end of said tubing, 9. gas separating chamber connecting with the inlet of said pump, a rotor in said gas separating chamber, positive means to rotate said rotor in saidchamber, an inlet for admitting liquid containing gas into said chamber, means to separate liquid and gas in said chamber and means to transfer liquid from which gas has been separated from said chamber to said pump.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means to rotate said rotor comprises a fluid press re driven motor.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means to rotate said rotor comprises a fluid presa cylindrical chamber an underpressure from said'pump to said motor. 1:.

6. In a pumping well the-combination of. a well tubing, a pump at the :lower'end of said tubing,

.agas separating chamber communicating with the inlet of said pump",-a rotor in said gas separating chamber, positive means to rotate said rotor in said chamberran inlet for admitting liquid containing gas-into the lower portion of said chamber, means to separate liquid and 'gas in-the upper portion of said chambe means to'exha'ust separated gas from the upper. portion of said chamber and means to, transfer liquid from which gas has been separatedairom said chamher to the inlet ofsaid pump. 1

7. In a pumping well th'e'combination of ,a well tubing, a puinp' at the lower end-oi said tubing,

'separating chamber communicating with jthe nlet of said pump, an elongated rotor havingfa theft axially disposed within'said having a plurality of substantially radiallye fending vanes, an inlet for liquid 'containinggaii at} one. end of said chamber, means to separate iqiiid and gas at the opposite end of v said cylinde means connected to one end of said shaft for fating said rotor, and means for transie'r liquid from which gas has been separated said chamber to the inlet of said D I XL- I y i ,8. pparatus according to claim 7 in which the inean'sffoi" rotating s'aid rotor comprises a fluid operated motor-and means to transfer liquid underpressure f in said tubing to said motor.

9.111: ping. well the combination of a well I Y at the lower end oi said tubing. a

vertically positioned, cylindrical gas separating chamber extending from the lower end of and communicating with the inlet of said pump, an elongated rotor having'a shaft axially disposed within said cylindrical chamber and having'a plurality V of substantially radially extending rvanes-g aninlet for liquid containing gas in the alower'portion of said chamber, meansto separate liquid and gas'in the upper portion of said chamber,.means to exhaust separated gas from the said separating means and from s'aid cylinder, means to transfer liquid from' which gas has been separated from said cylinder to the inlet 01' said pump and means connectedwith the lower demand tubing to actuate said means for agitating liquid in said chamber.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means to rotate the rotor is a device driven by the hydrostatic head in the well'tubing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the means to rotate said rotor is a device driven by the hydrostatic head from the well tubing.

4 HOWARD C. PYLE. 

